The Emotion Revolution: NP0023 - Session 4

In this session, you'll learn why positive emotions are often an underutilized resource in treatment and why people are vulnerable to negative biases. With Rick Hanson, you'll explore the benefits of helping clients internalize positive emotions.

After you hear this presentation, please take a few minutes to comment about what you found most interesting or relevant. These comment boards will be a valuable way to share your thoughts, opinions, and questions throughout the series. If you ever have any technical questions, please feel free to contact support@psychotherapynetworker.org and our Support Team will help you.

Rick was just what I needed today! He brings such powerful, research based practices to the accessible level of beginners like me with such simplicity and clarity. The distinctions between positive THOUGHTS and positive EXPERIENCES is well stated. As therapists we need to interrupt the client's spill of negativity by inviting them to splash around in and enjoy the slippery little positive experiences of their lives long enough to remember them. And the EXPERIENCE of the splashing around during a session is yet another positive experience. The garden analogy is easy to remember. Thanks!
I will check out Rick's books and website.

Thank you Rick for the sensitive, thoughtful and useful synthesis. What comes to mind in translating words into positive experential change is the work of David Grove's work with metaphor ("clean language&quotand Eugene Gendlin's Focusing.

Good and helpful metaphors,Rick, included in a clear, well stated presentation. You reminded me of what my therapist said when I asked her about homework, "be kind to yourself and pay attention to your feelings." That was so foreign to me and it activated my puzzled attention, then and for much of my time between sessions. For now, years later, you reminded me of another simple phrase which helps me in troubled times, from Ticht Nacht Han (spelling?: "In this moment there is happiness". Again, my thanks to Rich for bringing you to me.

Excellent presentation! The optimism of your approach is uplifting and refreshing, dragging us out of the pathology that pervades the therapeutic world. It reminds me of a wise thought shared by a friend: We cannot rid ourselves of darkness by beating it with a stick; we can only add light.
Your approach to activating positive experiences seems similar to that of Tony Robbins - bringing them up with our physical senses and experiencing them repeatedly so as to integrate them into our physical bodies, making them a dominant part of our lives. Your method, however, seems to have more of a gentle touch.
Thank you

Wonderful presentation. What if the client needs to work on all three areas of antidote experience. (trauma, loss, not feeling attuned to) Is there a priority in approaching them? Can they be built up simultaneously or do they need to be separated and approached one at a time? Thanks.